NHKニュースで学ぶ現代英語 2026年3月勉強分②
ウクライナ 若者の流出が加速
< 見出し>MANY YOUNG MEN LEAVE UKRAINE FOR POLAND
The number of young Ukrainian men leaving the country has increased sharply since the government started allowing them to do so in August.
This could contribute to the shortage of soldiers.
・contribute to ～：～の一因となる、～を助長する
Polish border guards say Ukrainian men aged between 18 and 22 entered Poland about 156,000 times during the final four months of last year.
・the final four months：finalとlastの使い分けについて下記GPT欄参照
Before that, most men aged 18 to 60 were barred from leaving the country, as a general mobilization order was issued in response to Russia’s invasion.
・bar：（人が通れないように道を）ふさぐ、出入りを禁じる、閉じ込める、人が～するのを妨げる
・general mobilization order：総動員令
The Ukrainian government says the easing of the ban is aimed at giving young people opportunities to study abroad, so they can contribute to developing the country.
This expert on Ukraine’s demographic issues says there could be grave consequences for the country’s future.
・demographic：人口統計の、人口学の
・grave：重大な、深刻な
“The loosening of measures could undermine Ukraine’s demographic and economic potential. Some young men will return in the future, but it is now impossible to predict how many.”
・undermine：損なう、だめにする
“･･･ Ukrainian men ･･･ entered Poland about 156,000 times during the final four months of last year." の「final」は「last」と同じ？
この the final four months を the last four months とすると意味が変わる。
the final four months：その年の最後の4か月（昨年の最後の4か月（9月〜12月））
the last four months：（今からさかのぼって）直近の4か月
last の主な2つの意味
1.「最後の」（順番のいちばん最後）
例）
the last train（最終電車）
the last page of the book（本の最後のページ）
the last day of the trip（旅行の最後の日）
He was the last person to leave.（彼が最後に帰った人だった）
2.「直近の・この〜」（今からさかのぼった期間）
例）
the last four months（ここ4か月）
the last few days（ここ数日）
last week（先週）
last year（去年）
※latestとの違い
latest は「一番新しい情報・もの」（時間の長さではなく、最新のもの）を指す。
例）
the latest news（最新ニュース）
the latest version（最新版）
the latest report（最新の報告）
ホンダ F1復帰
< 見出し>HONDA SEES F1 RETURN AS FAST LANE TO NET-ZERO GOALS
・fast lane：「速い車線」→「近道・早い方法」
・net zero：温室効果ガスの排出をnet「正味の、実質ベースの」ゼロにすること
Honda Motor says its return to Formula One racing will speed up development of low-carbon technology for its mass-produced vehicles.
The Japanese automaker withdrew from F1 in 2021, but returns this year to provide Aston Martin with hybrid power units.
・power unit：エンジンとモーター、バッテリーなど、エネルギーシステムを複雑に組み合わせたユニットで、Ｆ１マシンの動力源
Company President Mibe Toshihiro spoke at a news conference with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team.
He says F1 racing is an opportunity to train employees and develop net-zero technology.
This translates into benefits for its overall auto business, which faces tough competition.
F1 is shifting to use of sustainable fuel in the 2026 season.
It will also raise the ratio of electric energy used in vehicles to equal that of power from the combustion engine.
・combustion：（エンジン内の）燃焼
・combustion engine：燃焼機関
Mibe says Honda will incorporate technology developed in Formula One into its vehicles.
・incorporate A into B：ＡをＢに取り入れる、組み込む、組み入れる
豪の少年 海を4時間泳ぎ家族救出
< 見出し>AUSTRALIAN BOY SWIMS 4 HOURS TO SAVE FAMILY SWEPT OUT TO SEA
・be swept out to sea：沖に流される
An Australian boy is being hailed as a hero after swimming for four hours to get help for family members who had been swept out to sea.
・hail A as B：ＡをＢだとして称賛する
The 13-year-old made the marathon swim after drifting offshore with his mother and two siblings in their kayak and paddleboards.
The incident occurred off Quindalup in Western Australia on Friday.
Austin Appelbee initially tried to paddle back to shore in the kayak before it capsized.
・capsize：転覆する
He then swam 4 kilometers to raise the alarm and spark a search effort.
・raise the alarm：緊急事態を知らせる
・spark：引き起こす、きっかけとなる、かき立てる
・search effort：捜索活動
Austin told local media he tried to stay positive during the exhausting journey.
A search-and-rescue helicopter located his mother and two siblings two and a half hours later.
・locate：正確な位置を突き止める、発見する
They had drifted 14 kilometers out to sea.
Police praised the boy’s efforts and said his courage had ultimately saved the lives of his mother and siblings.
・ultimately：最終的には、究極的には、結局のところ [ʌ́ltəmətli]
インド たばこ税引き上げで雇用喪失も
< 見出し>INDIA RAISES TOBACCO TAX, MAY RESULT IN JOB LOSSES
India has raised taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products, hiking the basic tax rate from 28 percent to 40 percent starting this month.
Tobacco producers and other people in the industry are worried that this will lead to job losses, increased smuggling, or other illegal trades including counterfeit products.
・smuggling：密輸
・counterfeit：偽造の、にせ物の [káuntərfìt]
Last year, the government cut taxes to stimulate domestic consumption amid higher U.S. tariffs on Indian goods.
The tobacco tax hike was meant to make up losses from other taxes.
・be meant to ～：～するよう意図されている、～するよう作られている
・make up：（不足・損失の）埋め合わせをする
The move may raise the price of a pack of cigarettes by 55 rupees, or about 60 cents, maximum.
“The impact is going to be huge. It will not be known immediately, but after some time, about two to three months, cigarette sales will go down 100 percent.”
Indian smokers are said to number about 250 million.
・number ～：（後ろに数字を続けて）（合計）～に達する、～に上る